Valve device for use with a hot water supply



Jan. 22, 1935. L. D. LOVEKIN 1,988,907

VALVE DEVICE FOR USE WITH A HOT WATER SUPPLY Filed May 5. 1931 Patented Jan. 22, 1935 UNITED STATES VALVE DEVICE FOR USE WITH A HOT WATER SUPPLY Luther D. Lovekin, Villa Nova, Pa., assignor to Kitson Company, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of West Virg a Application May 5, 1931, Serial No. 535,182 1 Claim. (01. 13 7-161) The principal object of the present invention is to provide a valve device for use with a hot water supply in which the fusible body is absolutely protected against contact with the water and at the same time is in proper location to be heated sufl'iciently by conduction.

Another object of the invention is to provide a valve device of the type recited having a diaphragm which excludes water from the fusible body and also facilitates the operation of the device.

The invention comprises the improvements to be presently described and particularly pointed out in the claim and, generally stated, the invention also comprises a valve device for connection with a hot water supply comprising a casing, a diaphragm arranged in the casing, a valve and seat and waterways at one face of the diaphragm, plunger and cylinder elements at the other face of the diaphragm, a fusible metal body arranged on the plunger side of the diaphragm, and a stem cooperating with the fusible body.

In the following description reference will be made to the accompanying drawing forming part hereof and in which Figure 1 is a vertical central sectional elevation of a device embodying features of the invention responsive to temperature changes in the water, I

and

Fig. 2 is a similar view of a device responsive to both temperature changes in the water and pressure changes in the water such as are developed by temperature changes.

Referring to the drawing and more particularly to Fig. 1, 1 and 2 are parts which make up a casing. 3 is a diaphragm arranged in the casing and shown as clamped or held between the parts 1 and 2. At one face of the diaphragm 3 there is a valve 4 shown as a rubber, fiber or like disk, a raised seat5 and waterways 6, 7 and 8. At the other face of the diaphragm there are plunger or piston and cylinder elements 9 and 10. 11 is a metal body of alloy adapted to melt or soften under heat, and it is shown as arranged in a holder 12 seated in a cavity provided in the plunger 9. There is a stem 13 resting upon the body 11 and including a handle 14 and screw thread connection 15 with the casing.

In use the waterways 6 and 8 may be connected in a supply line to a water heater or supply of heated water. The connection '7 may be connected to a drain. If the temperature of the water rises, heat is conducted to the body 11, which softening, allows the diaphragm to rise under the pressure of the water lifting the valve 4 from its raised seat 5 and permitting water to flow through the waste connection 7, and in this way the temperature of the water is lowered, in some cases causing the body 11 to harden without escaping from under the stem 13, so that by manipulation of the handle 14 the valve can be reclosed without replacing the body 11. By the removal of the stem, a new body 11 can be inserted without disturbing any of the pipe connections. It is obvious that water never comes in contact with the body 11.

The construction and mode of operation of the modification shown in Fig. 2 are as has been described except as follows:

The valve device is responsive to both temperature changes and to pressure changes such as are brought about in the water by temperature changes. The fluidway 15 is connected to a supply of hot water and the fluidway 16 is connected to a drain. Arranged in the part 2 of the casing is a housing shown to consist of two parts 17 and 18 detachably connected and removable as a unit. In this housing there is arranged a compression spring 19, one end of which bears on a support 20, resting on a set screw 21. The other end of the spring bears on the head of a stem 22 of which the base 23 rests on the fusible body 11.

In use, pressure of the water acting on the diaphragm 3 may lift the rubber, the fiber or like disk of the valve 4 from its seat 5 without softening of the body 11, and in this case the valve recloses under the action of the spring 19. In the event that the body 11 fuses or softens, the valve 4 may open without compression of the spring 19. When the body 11 is renewed, the housing 17 and 18 can be removed as a unit and replaced without danger of accidental change in the compression of the spring.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art to which the invention relates that modifications may be made in details of construction and arrangement and matters of mere form without departing from the spirit of the invention which is not limited to such matters or otherwise than the prior art and the appended claim may require.

I claim:

A valve device adapted for connection with a hot water supply and comprising in combination a casing, a diaphragm dividing the interior of the easing into two chambers of which one is a water chamber and the other is a plunger chamber, said water chamber being equipped with inlet and outlet passages and openings and with a raised valve seat, a plunger arranged in the plunger chamber on one side of the diaphragm and having its end connected therewith, said plunger having a cavity in its other end, a fiber valve face attached to the plunger and'arranged on the other side of the diaphragm for 5 cooperation with the raised seat, a holder detachably arranged in the cavity, a fusible body in the holder, a stem resting on said body, and screw means accessible from the outside of the device for moving said stem in respect to said body.

LUTHER D. LOVEKIN. 

